imprison

verb

im·​pris·​on im-ˈpri-zᵊn How to pronounce imprison (audio)
imprisoned; imprisoning; imprisons
Synonyms of imprisonnext

transitive verb

: to put in or as if in prison : confine
imprisonment noun

Examples of imprison in a Sentence

He was imprisoned for murder. He has threatened to imprison his political opponents.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Those who answered no to the questions were, in most cases, imprisoned for the remainder of the war or beyond. Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026 But the vast public record that has emerged from the scandal has raised questions about Husted’s dealings with key players who have been indicted or imprisoned in the scheme, which revolved around legislative approval of a $1-billion bailout for the state’s two nuclear power plants. Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026 Stus died in 1985 in the Russian Perm-36 labour camp, where he had been imprisoned for anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda. Flora Bigham, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026 Deportees who aren't imprisoned face challenges Even those who are not immediately jailed face huge challenges, including economic ones, upon their return to their home country. Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for imprison

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French emprisoner, from en- + prison prison

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of imprison was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Imprison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/imprison. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

imprison

verb
im·​pris·​on im-ˈpriz-ᵊn How to pronounce imprison (audio)
imprisoned; imprisoning
-ˈpriz-(ə-)niŋ
: to put in or as if in prison
imprisonment noun

Legal Definition

imprison

transitive verb
im·​pris·​on
: to confine in prison especially as punishment for a crime compare false imprisonment
imprisonment noun

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